Agro-industrial Wastes Valorisation to Energy and Value-Added Products for Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

Worldwide, the agro-industrial sector generates an immense volume of waste, which is both a challenge and an opportunity. With the expansion of agricultural and food processing activities to meet the demands of a growing population, the amount of agro-industrial waste has increased considerably. These wastes encompass a wide variety of byproducts, such as crop residues, food processing wastes, and biomass residues. Despite their abundance, these wastes are often underutilised, resulting in environmental pollution and waste of resources. However, in the midst of these challenges lies a promising prospect: the potential conversion of agro-industrial wastes into valuable energy resources and products. This chapter integrates an analysis and literature review of the energy potential inherent in agro-industrial wastes. Brazil, Italy, and India lead in the number of publications. Key institutions focus on bioenergy from sugarcane, diverse biomass sources, and microalgae. Major research areas include biotechnological methods, energy production efficiency, thermochemical processes, water purification, and hydrogen production. It analyses the existing energy potential of agro-industrial wastes by examining the higher heating value (HHV) and other important parameters analysed by the scientific community. In addition, it delves into the scientific communities dedicated to the energy utilisation of agro-industrial wastes, highlighting their remarkable scientific advances and collaborations. Finally, this review explores the existing prediction models for forecasting the calorific value of these wastes.